Football: Former Alberta d-back Rhys Coppens dies

Very sad news: Rhys Coppens, a 20-year-old defensive back who was planning to play for Calgary this fall, was killed in Fernie, B.C., last weekend.

Update: The Edmonton Sun reports Coppens "was found in an alley outside a bar in Fernie, B.C. around 2:25 a.m. Sunday ... He was suffering from a number of severe injuries, police said."

Words fail at saying how awful for family and friends to have to lay someone so young and who had such potential to rest. Coppens was a terror in the secondary and on special teams for Alberta when he started in '07 as a 17-year-old straight from St. Francis Xavier in Edmonton. He moved to the CJFL's Vancouver Island Raiders, but was ready to give CIS another go with coach Blake Nill's Dinos.

Dear Rhys you were the best coach i ever had. The things you taught me will never be forgotten, you were a brother and a bestfriend. You will never be forgotten and i hope you are there to watch for the rest of my football career. I hope we get to meet again one day. Love Prather.